Colorado Trailer Towing Laws

Colorado Trailer Towing Laws

Written by Jeremy D. Earle, JD

February 24, 2023

Requirements for Registration and Title

When pulling a trailer, it is the legal obligation of the car’s operator to guarantee the equipment’s safety. If this is not done and a car accident occurs, the negligent driver may be held liable.

Learn how to carry merchandise, animals, and cars securely using Colorado’s trailer towing rules, as well as how to spot when someone hauling a trailer is financially accountable for a car accident in Denver.

In Colorado, all trailers must be properly registered and titled. Trailers that are being towed behind cars must have current registration plates. If a motorist tows a trailer that is not titled or registered, he or she may be issued a traffic penalty and may be prohibited from using the trailer until it is registered.

Requirements for Trailer Brakes

All motor cars, save motorcycles, must have brakes that can stop and hold them, according to Colorado Cars and Traffic Code Section 42-4-223. If a driver is driving a commercial trailer or semitrailer that weighs more than 3,000 pounds, the trailer must have its brakes to control the trailer and enable it to come to a stop.

When a car carrying a trailer applies its brakes, it must be constructed and linked to automatically stop the trailer. In the case of an unintentional escape from the car, the trailer must also be built to automatically apply the brakes.

Brakes are not required on any trailer or semitrailer that weighs less than 3,000 pounds, a horse trailer that can accommodate two horses or fewer, or a trailer that does not satisfy the definition of a commercial car but is owned by a farmer conveying agricultural goods. Brakes must be well-maintained and in good functioning condition if they are necessary.

Colorado Trailer Dimensions That Are Legal

The entire length of a trailer being towed in Colorado, including the hitch and bumper, cannot exceed 70 feet. It must also be 8.5 feet wide and 14.5 feet tall. Towing a trailer that exceeds the permissible dimensions permitted in Colorado is unsafe. An excessively tall, broad, or lengthy trailer might cause an accident. It may, for example, make too broad bends or be too lengthy for the car towing it to effectively regulate the trailer’s motions

Requirements for Trailer Lighting and Signals

A car pulling a trailer must follow Colorado’s lighting regulations to guarantee proper vision at night. According to state legislation, all trailers must have at least one light on the back of the trailer.

A red light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet from the rear must be emitted by the taillamp. The light must be mounted at the height of no less than 20 inches and no more than 72 inches on the trailer.

Safety Chains are required for trailer hitches.

All drivers pulling trailers in Colorado must use safety chains where the trailers attach to the cars. If the hitch fails to keep the trailer attached, the safety chain must be strong enough to pull 100 percent of the hauled weight.

In Colorado, who is responsible for a trailer towing accident?

If you want to pull a trailer in Colorado, you must follow certain state rules, regulations, and limits. For the sake of safety, trailer towing restrictions have been enacted. Ignoring these guidelines might lead to an car accident if the trailer is not towed properly.

In Colorado, if you are involved in an accident caused by an unlawful or incorrectly attached trailer, the car’s driver may be held accountable.

Holding a motorist responsible for a trailer towing accident entails having them pay for your medical expenses, car repairs, and other financial losses. If you’ve been hurt in a trailer towing accident, talk to a car accident lawyer in Denver about your case. You might be eligible for financial assistance.

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Colorado Springs, CO 80904

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